By Evan Tudor
In what will be the battle of navy blue and gold, Strathmore and Essendon Doutta Stars will open Round 7 with Friday night football at Boeing Reserve.
It’s set to be an exciting clash between two sides placed third and fourth on the ladder respectively.
Both sides won over Hillside in their most recent hit out, with the Mores getting the job done by 22 points last weekend, while it was a 65 point job over the Sharks for the Stars two weeks back.
The Mores were able to respond last weekend when it took to the field against the Sharks following a 71-point defeat to Aberfeldie the weekend prior.
After a slow start, Strathmore was able stamp its authority on the match, something the Mores will look to do early under the Friday night lights.
Captain Eloise Egglestone and Talia Motta have had a consistent start to the season’s first half while Milla Murphy has continued her dominance in front of goal.
It’s been a strong start to Strathmore’s season in Premier Division with a 4-2 record putting itself on the right track towards finals contention.
The Stars will return to the playing field having had last weekend off for the bye.
Douttas have an average winning margin of 68 points from its three wins so far, with a league-high percentage of 312 demonstrating an ability to overrun opponents fast.
They’ll bring a key goalkicking spearhead to the table on Friday night, with Mia Tully securing 13 majors across five matches, and averaging over two goals in each contest.
Ada Pizzinga scored six majors in the Stars’ triumph over Hillside two weeks back and will look to threaten the Mores alongside Tully.
With both sides capable of taking out the win, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch Friday night blockbuster.
Saturday’s action opens at Town Centre Recreation Reserve when Caroline Springs looks to get back on the winner's list against Maribyrnong Park.
The Lakers were handed their first defeat of the season last weekend when it fell short to Oak Park by eight points.
Maribyrnong Park couldn’t pick up a second straight win when it faced off with Aberfeldie, going down by 58 points.
But a new opportunity arises on Saturday to put four more points on the board, with finals in one team’s sights and a surge up the ladder a goal for the other.
There’s an exciting edge to both teams, with the Lakers’ owning dominance across the ground, while Maribyrnong Park shares a fast and lively brand of footy.
Conceding only 147 points so far this season at an average of 29 a game, the Lakers know how to prevent opponents from scoring big. And while last week’s result was an outlier to this, Caroline Springs has what it takes to build upon and strengthen its last line of defence.
Led by captain Caitlin Pretty who stands strong at full back, the Lakers boast key talent wherever you look.
Jacinta Kondis and Mira Diab have combined for 18 goals across the Lakers’ first five games.
Taya Meiers has also proved to be a ball magnet week in and week out, guiding the Sherrin down field and stepping up wherever required.
But will it be enough to hold off the fast and exciting side that is Maribyrnong Park?
While the Lions have only two wins to their name, they have played like their season is on the line each week, never holding back and always going full throttle.
Tegan Matthews continues her stance as one of the club’s biggest names with fast runs, driving kicks, and goals galore setting the pace at Walsh Oval and beyond.
Darcie Robinson stood out last weekend, especially in the back half of the field, with Dimi Papadopoulos already proving to be an integral part of the senior side, while Ava Steel went at it in ruck.
The Lions have a good chance to stun the Lakers on Saturday, but they’ll have to act fast.
Caroline Springs will look to get a fifth win on the board as the season rolls on.
Hillside and Keilor will go head to head to pick up a long-awaited win as Round 7 continues at Shark Park.
With the Sharks on the wrong side of the scoreboard in every game since Round 2, and the Blues yet to sing the song in 2026, anyone can win Saturday’s clash.
Last weekend the Sharks couldn’t keep up with the fast Strathmore, going down by 22 points at Lebanon Reserve.
The result was amid a coaching change, with Blaise Ferraro returning to replace Chris Daley.
Hillside got the ball rolling early with the match’s first, and only goal for the first half, before being outscored from thereon.
The Sharks will need to combine from full forward to full back if they want to get ahead early in this game.
Krissy Trang, Caitlin Sargent, Annalise Wilkie, and Hannah Ibrahim have all had strong performances for the Sharks week by week, standing tall in their respective parts of the field.
The only winless team remaining this season, Keilor has struggled to get the ball rolling in 2026.
The Blues were overwhelmed last weekend at the hands of Moonee Valley by 113 points.
With only one goal to Keilor’s name from the past two weeks, the Blues will be hoping that they can turn the corner and that there is light and the end of the tunnel.
Even though they haven’t been able to sing the song in 2026 just yet, Keilor should be proud of the players’ commitment to the club every week.
Will this be the weekend that Keilor gets on top, or will Hillside snap its losing streak?
Round 7 concludes at JP Fawkner Reserve under Saturday night lights as Oak Park welcomes Moonee Valley.
Both sides enter this clash following significant wins last weekend.
Oak Park runs onto its home deck after becoming the first side to defeat Caroline Springs.
Moone Valley has bolstered its percentage after a 113-point demolition job over Keilor.
The Fog owned last weekend’s play at Joe Brown Oval with seven goalkickers contributing to the big win.
Charlotte D’Ambrosio and Matilda Zander both scored five while their captain Nadia Valenti secured four.
The trio have already been some of Moonee Valley’s standouts in the 2026 campaign and will now enter Saturday night’s contest following a big confidence boost.
With a win over the then-undefeated Caroline Springs under its belt, Oak Park will rightfully have the belief that it can prevail in this one.
Felicity Theodore, Holly McGregor, Ellie Huggard, and Terira Fry have all been named some of the Kangas’ best on three-separate occasions out of five, with last year’s runner up hoping it can win its way up the ladder.
It was the Kangaroos who took the win by 54 points when these sides last met in Round 14 last year, adding to its Round 6 victory over the Fog which it won by 60 points.
Will history repeat itself under the Saturday night lights, or will Moonee Valley be able to produce something magical just like it did last weekend?
Can’t make it to the game? Catch it live and free on Streamer as part of Nelson Alexander EDFL Match of the Day.
By Jake Reeves & Michelle Dunstan
Roxburgh Park is set to host Coburg Districts in a must-win game at Lakeside Reserve on Saturday morning.
Both sides sit one win and four losses heading into the Round 6 clash, with it being a crucial game as we edge toward the halfway point of the season.
Roxy are coming in off the back of their first win of the 2026 campaign when they took down the Sunbury Lions convincingly by 38 points and will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
It was a tough afternoon last weekend for Coburg Districts who came up against the ladder leaders in Westmeadows who got the job done in a dominant display by 51 points.
All eyes will be on Coburg Districts superstar Zoe Manning who has had an incredible season to date and has had four games in the best out of the five she has played.
While Roxy’s skipper Haylea Cooke continued her strong form, alongside Malake Hamdan who both nailed two goals in the victory last Saturday.
Sunbury Kangaroos will return to action with Taylors Lakes heading down the Calder to Eric Boardman Reserve.
Taylors Lakes continues to search for its first win with a 20-point loss to East Sunbury its most recent outing.
The Kangaroos, meanwhile, sit 2-2 and a win here will keep them in touch in the finals mix.
Emma Villani and Courtney McCormack have been among the standouts for Taylors Lakes and will look to lift their side with Rebecca Foggie.
For the Kangaroos, Nicole Knudsen is the one to stop.
Knudsen has been named their best in every game so far and has been a catalyst in new colours for 2026.
Craigieburn and East Sunbury take centre stage in an evenly matched battle at Vic Foster Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles were flying to start the season, but a hiccup against the in-form Burnside Heights last week gave the Eagles their first taste loss so far this campaign.
East Sunbury has started the season strongly and is sitting fifth on the ladder, getting the job done against a gritty Taylors Lakes last Saturday at home.
The Thunder have had consistent performers throughout the season like Ruby Taranto, who has kicked eight goals already, and proved herself a consistent and reliable goal scorer.
Sienna Scuderi has been a clear stand out for the Eagles with three best player honours and five majors for the season.
Sunbury Lions and Tullamarine will each look for win number two for the season when they meet at Clarke Oval.
The Demons will return to action with their most recent game a win over East Sunbury.
The Lions are coming off a 38-point loss to Roxburgh Park, their fourth comfortable defeat.
Karla Tentonello will look to lead from the front for the Lions having been named in their best on four of five occasions.
Toniyah Wilkins-Waretini is another who was strong in their earlier win and will play a big part in the result.
For the Demons, Charlotte Jackson has starred again this year and will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins.
An interesting contest awaits Tenterfield Drive with Burnside Heights hosting Keilor Park.
Both sides sit 4-1 with Keilor Park playing up to the lofty standards many set for it in the pre-season, while Burnside Heights has been eye-catching as it's built into the season.
The Bears downed the previously undefeated Craigieburn last week, Nicole Santos key in the win with four goals.
There is firepower for the Devils as well with Caitlyn Crameri booting six goals in their 42-point win over Gisborne last week.
Ashleigh Guest played game number two for the orange and green last week and adds to their top end, while the return of Georgia O'Donovan after missing last week will be one to keep an eye on.
Will the Bears keep on rolling for will Keilor Park stamp its authority on the competition?
Gisborne will be hoping to get its season back on track when it faces the top-of-the-table Westmeadows at Gardiner Reserve.
Gisborne currently sit mid table and need to find themselves the four points to stay in the finals mix.
It has been a monumental start to the season for Westmeadows which has been the most dominant and successful team to this point of the season.
Bulldogs superstar Amy O’Kelly is the only player to have best player honours in every single game so far this season, a perfect five from five and puts herself in the conversation of being among the best players in the competition.
Courteney Munn has been the most dominant forward in the 2026 campaign, kicking a remarkable 19 goals in only five matches, and will once again be on the whiteboard for Gisborne when they make their way to Gardiner reserve on Saturday.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
STRATHMORE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Friday 7:30pm at Boeing Reserve
CAROLINE SPRINGS v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 1:50pm at Town Centre Recreation Reserve
HILLSIDE v KEILOR
Saturday 1:50pm at Hillside Recreation Reserve
OAK PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
🎥 Streamer
Saturday 6:10pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 10:00am at Lakeside Reserve
SUNBURY LIONS v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 11:50am at Clarke Oval
CRAIGIEBURN v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 11:50am at Vic Foster Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 11:50am at Eric Boardman Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 11:50am at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
GISBORNE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 11:50am at Gardiner Reserve
